Improvement in balloon-advertisers



E. Le B. mdo DIE.

Balloo n-Advertisers.

Patented Magrch18,1873.

2 EEFE'rY AM Pyarwumasmmw 00. IV. X(0sBaRNE:9 moms) ELHANAN LE BURTON MOODIE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BALLOON-ADVERTISERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 36,930, dated March 18, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELHANAN LE BURTON MObDIE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Balloon- Advertiser; and I do declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawin g making a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view of the balloon-advertiser in suspension.- Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the cylindrical part of the advertiser. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the cylinder. Fig. 4 is an end view of the cylinder.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

My balloon-advertiser is composed of two prominent and conspicuous parts, described as follows: A represents a balloon in suspension. Brepresents the cylindrical portion of the balloon-advertiser suspended beneath the balloon. g represents arope, one end of which is attached to the balloon and its other end attached to a common Windlass.

In Fig. 3, e e e e represent a section of canvas or cloth, on which letters are shown; k k

k represent a spiral gas-pipe passing through the cylinder; h h h It are gas-burners screwed into the pipe. "I: t it represent an insulated wirefor lighting the gas-jets. p is a section of the rubber gas-pipeattached to the spiral pipe within the cylinder. 9 g g 9 represent a rope passing through the central opening of the spiral pipe. 0 c c c are wheels or forms placed at suitable intervals along the spiral pipe, over which the canvas is stretched.

In Fig. 4, n n a n represent the rim of a wheel; 01 d d d, the spokes thereof ya, the hub 3 a hole, through which the rope 9 passes; a e e e, the canvas or cloth, which is secured to the rim of the wheel.

That others may be well versed in the construction of this novel invention, I will describe it as follows:

In the first place I employ a balloon of sufficient capacity for the purpose employed; From beneath this balloon I suspend a basket, L, or any other suitable contrivance, as may be deemed proper, for holding weights or ballast.

. At the bottom of the basket I attach a strong rope, g, which reaches to the ground, and is secured to a Windlass, m, said Windlass being employed in raising and lowering the balloon with an electric spark when desirable.

as occasion requires. The cylindrical part B of my invention is secured firmly to the rope g beneath the basket L.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged external view of the cylinder B, showing the arrangement of the letters thereon. As represented in the vertical section, Fig. 3, I employ a spiral gas-pipe, k k k k. To this pipe I attach gas-burners h h h h. To these gas-burners I afiix an insulated wire, t t i t, for the purpose of igniting the gTas 0 this spiral gas-pipe 7c is k kI attach wheels or braces c 0 c c, for the purpose of securing and supporting the cloth or canvas and keeping it in the form of a cylinder. The wheels or braces may be made like any ordinary wheel, with a hub, spokes, and rim, as shown in Fig. 4. The gas-pipe k k k k is made spiral for the purpose of allowing the rope g to pass through the center of the cylinder, thereby preventing the rope from vibrating about in the cylinder; also from coming in contact with the flame from the gas-jets.

That there may be no undue draft of air through the cylinder, which may be caused by the burning of the gas, I. employ a head or covering at the bottom of the cylinder B sufficiently tight or close to prevent any undue circulation of air within the cylinder, thereby giving a steady light at all times when in use. To the lower end of the spiral gas-pipe k k k k I attach an India-rubber gas-pipe, p, of sulficient length to reach the ground from whatever altitude I may deem desirable. The lower or ground end of therubber gas-pipe is attached to a gas-pipe, or to some gas-generating apparatus which supplies the gas-burners within the cylinder B. Around the rubber gas-pipe I coil an insulated wire, t t t t. I connect this wire in a proper manner with all of the burners within the cylinder B. The ground end I connect with an electrical battery for the purpose of lighting the gas within the cylinder whennecessary. When gas is not obtainable I can use other light-producing substances, such as candles, oils, &c.

The following is a description of my method of advertising: I employ a balloon or any other contrivance that will rise in the air by virtue of its own buoyancy, or from the cause of its being of less specific gravity than the air On my balloon or aerial which surrounds it.

vehicle I cause letters, words, signs, &c., to. daylight,and visible at night when illuminated be fixed in a showy and attractive manner. from within the cylinder. To the balloon or vehicle I attach banners and What I claim as my invention, and desire to streamers, on which appropriate devices may secure by Letters Patent, is-

be arranged. At the bottom of the balloon, 1. The combination of the balloon A, adverand around the rope which anchors the balloon tising-cylinder B, and rope or cord 9, substanto the earth, I suspend a cylinder of suitable tially' as and for the purpose herein specified. diameter and length, and to that I affix appro- 2. The advertising-cylinder B, when compriate letters, words, signs, 850., said letters, posed of the wheels or forms 0 c c, constructed words, signs, &c., to be of such dimensions as described, and cloth or equivalent covering that they may or can be read at long distances 0, in combination with the rope or cord g, sub- -say from two to five miles. stantially as and for the purpose herein spec- Various forms can be used on which the ified.

letters, words, and signs may be fixed; but I 3. The combination of the spiral gas-pipe I, prefer the cylindrical form, for the reason that burners h h, and rope or cord g, substantially the letters, words, and signs can be written as and for the purpose herein specified. from top to bottom, in vertical lines, and at 4. The combination, with the gas pipe It, various points around the circumference of the burners h h, and rope or cord g, of the flexible cylinder, thereby giving the observers an oppipe 9, for the purpose herein specified; portunity to read the letters, words, or signs 5. The combination, with the gas-pipe 7:,

from whatever locality-they may happen to be burners h h, and rope or cord g, of the electric in, providing they are within reading distances. conducting-wire '17,. for the purpose herein spec- On the cylindrical part of my apparatus I ified.

propose to paint the canvas black, or with some opaque color, leaving the letters, words, and Witnesses:

signs white, or the natural color of the cloth JONATHAN MARSHALL,

or canvas, thereby rendering them visible by WM. FRANK BROWNE.

E. LE BURTON MOODIE. 

